rkansas
(3-4, 2-2 SEC) and Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2 SEC) are both coming off a bye week
as they head into Saturday's game in Little Rock, and this one should be
critical for two teams hoping to get closer to bowl eligibility.

Arkansas
will not have to deal with Texas A&M do-it-all quarterbackJohnny
Manzielthis time, but Ole Miss is
considered to be very similar offensively. Manziel set an all-time SEC
record against the Hogs with 557 total yards in a single game. Ole Miss
junior college transfer quarterbackBo
Wallaceis good in his own right, but
he's not Manziel. He may not break off a lot of 60-yard runs, but he is
more than capable of picking up 10 or 15 yards if needed.

Freshman back
Jonathan Williams had a breakout game against Kentucky last time
out

"The
last two weeks he's played well with the exception of really one throw.
Hopefully if he can continue that, that comfort level will increase,"
Rebel head coachHugh
Freezesaid.

Wallace
has completed 107 of 168 pass attempts (63.7 percent) for 1,371 yards,
nine touchdowns and eight interceptions this season while sporting a 140.4
passer rating. It is his first season in the SEC after competing in junior
college last season.

"He's
very elusive," Arkansas defensive endTrey
Flowerssaid. "They've got the read-zone
and stuff like that. He can run and obviously he can pass. We've got to
make sure we stay disciplined with him, and when we do get a good shot at
him, let him feel it."

The
talk all week has been about playing disciplined football. For the
offense, that means continuing to put up yards like they have all season
withTyler
Wilsonat quarterback but not making
critical errors inside the red zone or giving up costly turnovers. For the
defense, with a fast-tempo, spread option type of team, it means playing
with their eyes and executing their individual responsibility no matter
what on every down.

The
Hogs blitzed more than they have all season in the last two games, wins
over both Auburn and Kentucky. They did not blitz A&M that much the
week before because they were concerned with all the Aggies did as far as
the option and having a mobile quarterback. With Ole Miss having a similar
approach offensively, it could hurt the Hogs' defensive efforts since the
blitz has been a huge key when they have had success this
season.

More Ole Miss Playmakers

While
he has 28 carries for 60 yards (including sacks) and three touchdowns in
his last two games, Wallace would rather get the ball into the hands of
his playmakers, like receiverDonte
Moncrief,
who has caught 31 passes for 480 yards (15.5 yards per catch) with five
touchdowns.

"They
move him around," Razorback defensive coordinatorPaul
Haynessaid. "It's kind of hard to try
match him up, especially with how fast they go. You'll be running guys
around like crazy, so whichever side he is we have to have some awareness
of where he is at all times."

The
Rebels also have one of the best rushing attacks in the conference to
bring balance to a passing game that combines to be the fourth-best total
offense in the SEC. Led by juniorJeff
Scott's
562 yards this season, Ole miss averages 211.1 rushing yards per game.
Scott is averaging 6.1 yards per pop and is fourth in the conference in
rushing.

Wommack comes back

Arkansas
offensive coordinatorPaul
Petrinoand Ole Miss defensive
coordinatorDave
Wommackhave a history, having both
coached at Southern Miss in 2000. Petrino coached receivers, and Wommack
was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. The next year
Wommack left to take the defensive coordinator position at Arkansas, a job
he held for four years before being fired.

"He's
a good guy," Petrino said last week. "I think he's a good coach. I was
there one year with him. I respect him. Think he's a real good coach. He's
got a real nice wife and two good kids. My wife and his wife still talk
all the time. He's a good man, but I want to beat him - that's for
sure."

Ole
Miss is in the middle of the pack in total defense, coming in at No. 7 in
the league with 356.0 yards given up per game.

"They're
going to bring it around, they're going to come after you. Again, I don't
know, we'll have to wait and see how much they give us of that," Razorback
interim head coachJohn L.
Smithsaid. "I think that bodes well
for us. We like our match-ups from our wideouts on different guys. So
we'll just have to wait and see, but yes, we've seen a lot of that and of
course we prepare every week we go blitz protections and as many as we
can. I think our quarterback is very capable of protecting
himself."

Return to War Memorial

This
will be the last time the seniors will get to play in Little Rock, and the
team will be seeking some redemption after losing there for the first time
in their playing careers during the second game of the season, 34-31 in
overtime to Louisiana-Monroe. Arkansas was up 28-7 just after
quarterbackTyler
Wilsonwas lost for the game with a
concussion.

"We're
a bunch better, to be honest with you," Smith said. "We just feel more
comfortable. I think we have gotten a lot better offensively. I think
we've gotten more physical over there. I think we're getting our running
game established much better than it had been in the past. And on the
defensive side, it seems like we're much more sound in what we do and
making people have to work for things, not giving up big plays, making as
many mental mistakes."

Wilson
said Little Rock has been good to him...though he may not remember that it
was not that good to him last game...or it could be that the overall body
of work in Little Rock the past five years has seen an 8-1 record. He also
won three times there in high school.

"It's
a place I've had probably more success than any other place I've ever
played. In terms of I won three state championships there, we had good
games there in the past. So I don't look too much to the last time we were
down there," Wilson said.

Mr. Little Rock

What
did happen however was another great game for senior receiver Cobi
Hamilton, the only player in the SEC averaging more than 100 receiving
yards per game this season. During his career, Hamilton has had great
games in six of seven in War Memorial Stadium.

"He
works hard, and I'm happy for him because he always shows out in Little
Rock," UA receiverJavontee
Herndonsaid. "When he plays good in
Little Rock, it makes the team play better. When Cobi has a good game,
hopefully we'll have a good game."In
seven career games in Little Rock, Hamilton has caught 28 passes for 643
yards with eight touchdowns. He averages four catches for 91.9 yards (22.9
yards per catch) with 1.1 touchdowns per in Little Rock outing dating to
his true freshman season.

That
includes tight endChris
Gragg(bruised knee and leg), who
practiced three weeks ago on a limited basis and has slowly come back to
form. Gragg has missed the last three-and-a-half games but is still second
on the team in receiving with 19 catches for 234 yards (12.3 yards per
catch) with two touchdowns.

"I'm
good. I'm glad to be back out there, ready to go get a win against Ole
Miss," Gragg said. "It's mostly dealing with soreness. Once I'm out there
playing and everything, I don't think about it, I don't feel it. Coaches
said I've been looking pretty fast on film, so I'm ready to go."

TailbackRonnie
Wingo Jr.is getting better after suffering
a shoulder injury, but Petrino stopped short of saying he would be ready
to go Saturday. Defensive tackleDeQuinta
Jones(legs) was at practice all week
and went through drills. He is expected to play Saturday, according to
defensive coordinatorPaul
Hayneson Wednesday, but UA interim head
coachJohn L.
Smithleft it up in the air on
Thursday.

"His
legs are getting better. He kind of wears down. I think the other thing
we're approaching D.D. with is trying to get down in weight," Smiths said.
"Carrying as much as he's carrying, if he can get below 300 I think
that'll help him. But if you're carrying too much, as the season goes on
and on, it just tears him down. So we had a little meeting about trying to
lose some weight and get some weight off of him. I don't know how much
he'll play this week."

CornerbackTevin
Mitchel(Gallbladder surgery) was back
for the Kentucky game but did not play as much as he normally would. He is
back to full strength, and that should allow the Hogs more flexibility in
the secondary, most notably in getting backup cornerbackKaelon
Kelleybrewsome action at the hybrid
linebacker/safety spot know as the STAR.